Link: Cardinals’ Numbering Process

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There is still a certain amount of consternation amongst Cardinal fans regarding Jon Jay’s uniform number and whether or not a player of his stature, or ANY player for that matter, should be wearing the number made beloved by former Cards center fielder Jim Edmonds.

B.J. Rains at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat put together a nice off-day piece about how Jay’s number was selected and the process the equipment folks go through each time a “new” player arrives.

I’m not terribly concerned about it, particularly since there is plenty of time before the accepted unwritten rule of retiring a Cardinal number kicks in – Edmonds’ possible induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Should the team show a bit more respect for Jimmy and what he did in St. Louis? Maybe. But remember this is also a guy who went to play for a bitter rival and then dumped salt in the wound with remarks about his former team and manager. Bygones are bygones now, but it’s worth keeping in the back of your mind.

If and when Edmonds is voted into the Hall of Fame, and if Jay is still around at that point, one of two things will happen: either Jay will change his number in deference to tradition, or folks will defer to Jay and allow him to finish his time with the number before it is retired to honor Edmonds.

After all, if Jay’s still with the Cardinals and still in 15 at least six years from now, he’s obviously done something right.

Writing about the Cardinals and other loosely associated topics since 2008, I've grown tired of the April run-out only to disappoint Cardinal fans everywhere by mid-May. I do not believe in surrendering free outs.